2016 Atlanta Maker Faire

GMS at Atlanta Maker Faire
Decatur, GA
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Sunday, October 2, 2016

For the second year, GMS members volunteered to teach people about geology at the Atlanta Maker Faire. This year we doubled the size of our space and we still had a packed house!

Bill Waggener covered a table with rocks that had many stories to tell. People were fascinated by all of the things the rocks can tell us.

Bob and Olga Jarrett set out an array of sand books, sand art, and sand images. They helped people make sand cards, then helped them see the sand up close with a digital microscope. Everyone was surprised how different sands can be, and they had a great time with this fun sand activity.

Charles Carter did cabbing demos (Bill filled in the first day). It was the perfect way to show people how a little bit of work can bring out the natural beauty of a stone.

I helped kids make pretend trace fossils with some clay and plastic items that Mary Gurney provided. Kids made trilobite, ammonite, and shell impressions as well as dinosaur footprints. Also, using beads donated by May show dealers and wire donated by Rick Blackwood, kids made cute springy beady people. It was such a popular activity we ran out of some of the beads!

Peyton and Celesta helped when we were swamped. Mary Gurney jumped right in and helped too. Ivy Edwards was on hand to help break down and load up as we closed out yet another successful Maker Faire!

Lori Carter
On behalf of the Maker Faire volunteers